Chapter 29: Warm Swing, Love in the Market
Morning dew still clung to the tops of the newly planted pomegranate trees in the courtyard when they were startled down by a burst of cheerful laughter. Little Swallow, clambering up the wooden ladder, was helping Liu Qing wind the last hemp rope around the swing. The red ribbon at the end of her braid fluttered up and down with her movements, like a happy butterfly.
"Higher! Higher! Only then can Xiaodouzi float into the clouds!" She turned her head and shouted to Liu Qing under the ladder. The sunlight shone through the newly pasted window paper, coating the tip of her nose with a layer of gold powder.
Liu Qing looked up at her, his dark face full of helpless smile, but his hand obediently moved the hemp rope upwards again: "Be careful not to fall! You girl, you are more anxious than Xiaodouzi." Just after he finished speaking, he saw Xiaoyanzi slip. He was so scared that he quickly reached out to help her, but saw that she was like a nimble swallow. She took advantage of the shaking of the ladder to jump lightly, landed steadily in front of him, and playfully patted the dust off her hands.
"Don't worry, Brother Liu Qing, I didn't practice these martial arts skills in vain!" Xiaoyanzi raised her chin proudly, turned around, and was hugged by Xiaodouzi who rushed over and grabbed her legs.
"Sister Little Swallow, is the swing ready? I want to be the first to swing!" Little Bean raised his dirty little face, his eyes shining like stars. The little pigeons and insects nearby also joined in the fun, jumping and dancing around the swing.
Liu Hong came out of the house holding a basin of water. Seeing this scene, she smiled and wiped her hands with her apron: "Don't worry, don't worry. Let me wipe the wooden board clean and put a cotton pad on it. I guarantee you won't fall!" She put the basin of water on the stone table. There was a fresh fragrance of soap nuts in the water. It was specially used for the children to wash their hands.
Xiaoyanzi ran over to help, picked up a cloth and dipped it in water to wipe the wooden board. The water splashed on Liuhong's face, causing Liuhong to pat her with a smile: "You, you just know how to make trouble!" The two of them laughed and played, and the water droplets drew crystal arcs in the sunlight, falling on the newly laid bluestone slabs, leaving small wet marks.
Xiao Jian had unknowingly stood at the courtyard gate, his grayish-blue gown looking particularly fresh in the morning light. He clutched a food box and surveyed the bustling scene in the courtyard. Beneath the newly built swing, Xiaoyanzi and Liuhong were distributing freshly steamed cakes to the children, while Liu Qing was mending something nearby. Elderly people sat under the eaves, basking in the sun, smiles lingering on their faces. The scene was vivid and warm, reminiscent of the courtyards of old Jiangnan homes, bringing a sense of peace and comfort.
"Brother! Why are you here?" Xiaoyanzi was the first to see him. She ran over holding half a sugar cake, with icing on the corners of her mouth. "Hurry and try the sugar cake made by Grandma Zhang. It's sweeter than the ones we have here!"
Xiao Jian shook his head helplessly, pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve pocket, and carefully wiped the icing sugar off the corners of her mouth. "Mom sent some snacks. Let Grandpa and Grandma have some." He handed the food box to Liu Hong who came over, his eyes sweeping over the stable swing and the nearly finished wooden horse next to it. "Nice craftsmanship."
Liu Qing scratched his head, a blush spreading across his dark face. "Brother Xiao Jian's instructions are excellent, and the blueprints are clear." He pointed at the wooden horse. "All that's left is the handrails. Once they're done, the kids can ride."
"Let me help you!" Xiaoyanzi dropped the candy cake and ran over, picked up the hammer and was about to nail it, but was stopped by Liu Qing.
"Your strength is so exaggerated, I'll do it." Liu Qing took the hammer, and with a flick of his wrist, the nail was firmly embedded in the wood. His movements were crisp and clear. Xiaoyanzi's eyes lit up as she sang beside him, "Brother Liu Qing, you're amazing! This technique is different from what my eldest brother taught me. Can you teach me?"
Xiao Jian watched from the side, his sister's eyes filled with genuine admiration. Liu Hong chimed in with a smile, "Yes, brother, just teach Xiaoyanzi," so he didn't try to stop her. He walked under the eaves and sat down next to Grandma Zhang. Watching the children laughing happily around the candied cakes, he suddenly understood why his sister always loved going to this compound—the hustle and bustle of life here was a vibrant, fresh feeling missing from the refined yet regimented life back home.
"Master Fang, it's all thanks to you and Xiaoyanzi." Grandma Zhang tremblingly handed over a cup of hot tea, tears glistening in her old eyes. "We old bones never dreamed that we could live in a house that doesn't leak, and the children can even have swings to play on..."
Xiao Jian took the teacup, his fingertips touched the warm wall of the cup, and whispered, "Grandma, don't say that. It's our fate that we can help each other." He looked at Xiaoyanzi in the distance who was following Liu Qing to learn how to use a plane. Her clumsy hands made wood shavings fly all over the sky, which made Liu Hong angry and amused, and the corners of her mouth curled up unconsciously.
As the sun rose higher, the courtyard grew busier and busier. Liu Qing's pancake stall had moved to a newly built shed at the entrance. Liu Hong called out, "Hot pancakes fresh from the oven!" The aroma wafted far and wide, attracting many neighbors. Xiaoyanzi ran around to help greet customers, handing out handkerchiefs and collecting coins with swift dexterity. Occasionally, she'd even give regulars an extra spoonful of sweet sauce, endearing this lively girl to everyone.
"Sister Xiaoyanzi, this is for you!" Xiaodouzi ran over, holding a freshly picked wild chrysanthemum and handing it to her like a treasure. Xiaoyanzi took it with a smile and pinned it in her hair, which attracted the children to run to pick flowers. Soon, her braids and Liuhong's were full of colorful wild flowers.
Liu Qing watched them in all their splendor, her head bent as she spread her pancakes, a smile hard to hide. Xiao Jian sat under the eaves, watching the vibrant scene, listening to the sizzling of the pancake griddle, the children's laughter, the chatter of the neighbors, and the distant hawking. Suddenly, he felt that autumn in the capital had become especially warm, thanks to this small courtyard.
Around noon, the Fang family's servants came to look for Xiaoyanzi to go back for dinner. Xiaoyanzi reluctantly said goodbye to everyone and before leaving, she reminded Liu Qing, "I'll bring the kite I drew this afternoon, and we'll fly it in the yard!"
"Okay!" Liu Qing and Liu Hong agreed with a smile and walked her to the gate. Watching Xiaoyanzi's skipping figure follow the servant away, Liu Hong suddenly sighed: "Brother, we really met a good person."
Liu Qing nodded heavily, gazing at the newly replaced window frames and the cheerful figures of the children in the courtyard. His heart felt as warm as if it were being ironed by the steam of a pancake. He knew that this friendship, nurtured amidst the hustle and bustle of the city, would be as strong and warm as this newly built swing set, accompanying them as they journeyed through the capital.
Xiao Jian finally left the compound, glancing back at the smoke-filled rooftops and the swings swaying in the wind. He silently thought, perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea to have his sister come here more often. The warmth of the city always cleanses the heart, making life more vibrant and enjoyable.
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